Tongs for suspending a paint can or the like



y 1950 R. c. MORRIS 2,507,675

TONGS FOR SUSPENDING PAINT CANS OR THE LIKE Filed May 1, 1947 INVENTOR. flap Mama C. Mu /s.

BY QMW ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 16, 1950 OFFICE TONGS FOR SUSPENDING A PAINT CAN OR THE LIKE Raymond C. Morris, Dayton, Ky.

Application May 1, 1947, Serial No. 745,168

4 Claims. 1

My invention relates to a pair of tongs for suspending a paint can or the like from the rung of a step ladder.

While it used to be the common practice to provide paint cans with bails with which to carry them and which could be used to suspend the can from the rung of a step ladder, while in use, the modern practice is to provide paint cans without any bails. However, the tops of the cans are so constructed that there is an inwardly projecting annular rim which frictionally holds the top of the can, but which remains on the can after the lid is removed.

It is an object of my invention to provide a pair of tongs which are adjustable to any normal size of paint can and which hooks under the edge of the inwardly projecting rim to suspend the same.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a pair of tongs for suspending a paint can as described above which is cheaply and easily manufactured, but which efficiently and safely holds the can when suspended from the rung of a step ladder.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a pair of tongs for suspending a paint can which may be quickly and readily attached to the can and removed from the same when not needed.

These and other objects of my invention which will be set forth hereinafter or will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading these specifications, I accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement of parts of which I shall now describe an exemplary embodiment. Reference is now made to the drawings which form a part thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my novel tongs in place suspending a paint can, the paint can being in section.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of my novel tongs.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the tongs shown l in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross section of the tongs shown in Figure 2, taken on a section line 4-4 in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the tongs showing the adjustability of the distance between the tongs.

Figure 6 is a perspective View of the journal for use with my tongs.

Briefly, in the practice of my invention, I provide a pair of tongs formed of arms in the configuration cf the letter L. One end of the tongs are pintled to a fixture carrying a journal. A rod is slidable through the journal and has a ring at one end, embracing the tong arms where they cross. The other end of the rod carries means for attaching it to a chain which in turn may be attached to the rung of a ladder. Actuation of the rod determines the distance between the two hooks on the terminal of the arms.

Referring to the drawings, I provide two arms 1 and 2 which cross each other at 3, and are preferably L-shaped in configuration. The end of the short leg of the L contains an eye 4, which rides over a pintle 5. In the construction I have shown, the pintle 5 is in the form of a rivet. However, other forms of pintles may be used. The pintle 5 is mounted on a bracket 6 which contains journal holes 1. While I have shown the bracket 6 in the form of a journal, other configurations are within the contemplation of my invention. I preferably provide a disc-like member 8 placed between the rivet head 9 and the eyes 4 to insure smooth operation of the arms on the pintle 5. However, the disc 8 may be configured differently or may be a part of the pintle. The terminals of the arms I and 2 opposite the eyes is carry hooks H3 and II.

There is a rod l2 which is journaled in the holes I of the bracket 5 and one end is formed into a ring l3 which embraces the arms I and 2 at their crossing point. The other end of the rod 12 is formed into a loop or hook M which may be attached to a chain it: either by hooking to the end of the same or preferably by sliding over a hook 16 on the end of the chain 55. The other end of the chain l5 carries a large hook ll which may be placed over the rung E3 of a step ladder.

The usual paint can or similar can has a wall 59 and an inwardly projecting flange portion 29.

In operation, the cover of the cam is removed and the ends of the arms l and 2 carrying the hooks l D and H are inserted in the can opening. The rod !2 is then moved vertically which forces the hooks Ill and H apart until they hook under the flange 2% of the paint can. The chain !5 is then attached to the end M of the rod l2 and hooked to the rung l8 of the ladder by the hook H. The weight of the paint tends to slide the bracket 6 carrying the pintle 5 downwardly on the rod l2 which in turn tends to force the ends of the rods 1 and 2 carrying the hooks IE! and I! apart. This insures the gripping of the paint can under the projecting rim 20 as is apparent from the drawings.

When it is desirable to remove the tongs from a paint can the rod i2 is manually slid downwardly in the journal I which brings the hooks Ill and II together and permits their removal from the opening of the paint can.

I preferably place a hook IS on the end of the chain l5 so that the chain with the hooks IT and [6 may be used to support a paint can having a bail on the rung of a ladder by inserting the hook 6 around the bail.

While I have shown both of the arms I and 2 mounted on a single pintle 5 attached to the bracket 6, it is within the contemplation of my invention to provide two pintles on the bracket 6 and mount a single arm on each pintle.

The disc 8 while insuring the smooth operation of the device may also be used for carrying advertising matter or the like.

From the above, it is apparent that I have provided tongs for suspending a paint can or any other container having an inwardly projecting rim to the rung of a ladder or any similar support from which it is desirable to hang the can;

It is to be understood that modification may be made in my invention without departing'from the spirit thereof, and I do not intend to limit myself otherwise than as pointed out in the claims which follow.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Tongs for suspending a can having an in Wardly projecting flange, comprising a channelshaped bracket having aligned holes in the legs and a pintle mounted on the outside of the base, a disc on the end of the pintle, two L-shaped arms having eye-shaped ends surrounding the pintle between the channel base and the disc, said arms crossing each other at a point, a rod terminating in a loop embracing said arms at their point of crossing and journaled in said holes in the channel legs, the other end of said rod connected to a hook and the arms terminating in flange-engaging hooks for the purpose de scribed.

2. Tongs for suspending a paint can or the like having an inwardly projecting rim, comprising two crossed arms having one end mounted on a pintle and the other end terminating in a rim engaging hook, a rod terminating in a loop embracing both arms at their point of crossing, said rod sliding through aligned holes in the legs of a channel shaped bracket mounted on one end of the pintle and having chain attaching means at the other end for the purpose described.

3. Tongs for suspending a paint can or the like having an inwardly projecting rim, comprising two crossed .arms having one end mounted on a pintle and the other end terminating in a rim engaging hook, a rod terminating in a loop embracing both arms at their point of crossing, said rod sliding through aligned holes in the legs of a channel shaped bracket mounted on one end of the pintle and having chain attaching means at the other end for the purpose described, a portion. ofsaid arms between the loop and the pintle-being bent.

4. Tongs for suspending a paint can or the like having an inwardly projecting rim comprising two crossed arms having one end rotatably mounted on a channel shaped bracket and the other end terminating in a rim engaging hook, a rod terminating in a loop embracing said arms at their point of crossing; said rod journaled in holes in the channel legs of the bracket and having chain attaching means to the other end for the purpose'described.

RAYMOND C. MORRIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 441,721 Trumbore Dec. 2, 1890 2,204,843 Campbell June 13, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS- Number Country Date 21,663 Great Britain Nov. 14, 1895 

